Page 423 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Family Glareolidae Species Glareola maldivarium Family Charadriidae Species Charadrius semipalmatus
Oriental Pratincole Semipalmated Plover

While obviously a pratincole, this is not an easy species Very much like the Ringed Plover (see p.170), it is
to identify, sharing characteristics with both Collared unlikely that a vagrant Semipalmated Plover will usually
Pratincole (see p.168) and Black-winged Pratincole. be noticed. In summer, it has less white behind the eye
It looks short-tailed (with only a shallow fork and no and a thinner black breast-band than a Ringed. In
streamers), and combines the dark upperwing and lack winter or immature plumages, the shorter bill, narrow
of a white trailing edge of Black-winged with the breast-band, and fractionally smaller size are useful;
chestnut-red underwing coverts of Collared.A worn suspicions need to be confirmed by the call.
or moulting Collared is the likeliest source of confusion. OCCURRENCE Very rare vagrant to W Europe, from
It is similarly elegant in the air, and a proficient hunter North America.
of flying insects. VOICE Bright,rising,double whistle,
OCCURRENCE Very rare vagrant to W Europe, chi-weee, more clearly articulated dark
from Asia, mostly in late summer. than a Ringed Plover’s. bill
VOICE Strident and tern-like.
ADULT
ADULT (WINTER)
short tail

narrow black
breast-band

Length 23–27cm (9–10 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 50–60cm (20–23 1 ⁄2in) Length 16–17cm (6 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 33–38cm (13–15in)

Family Charadriidae Species Charadrius vociferus Family Charadriidae Species Charadrius mongolus
Killdeer Lesser Sand Plover
The Killdeer is larger than a Ringed Plover (see p.170) In summer, this species has a more solidly dark reddish
and has a long tail, a tall but horizontal stance, and an breast-band than the Greater Sand Plover. It is also
obvious double black breast-band. Its legs are dull, the stockier, with a broad, round head that is not so
rather long bill black. In flight, it is striking because of disproportionately large, and a slightly shorter, more
its long tail and contrastingly rusty rump, unlike any tapered bill. It has blackish or dark grey-green legs.
other ringed plover type, and bold white stripe on In winter and immature plumages, it shows a neat dark
almost black wings. It may turn up almost anywhere patch on each side of the breast and a rather narrow
on open, flat, sandy or wet or derelict ground. pale stripe over the eye.
OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant to W Europe in autumn OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant in Europe,
narrow
or winter, from North America. from Asia, nowhere regular.
pale stripe
VOICE Loud, fluty double black VOICE Hard, short, trilled or over eye
whistle, klu-eee breast-band repeated trrrk or tirrik.
or kil-deeee.
long ADULT (WINTER)
black
ADULT bill
thick
blackish or dark black
long tail grey-green legs bill

Length 23–26cm (9–10in) Wingspan 45–50cm (18–20in) Length 17–19cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 45–58cm (18–23in)
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